Sunday, August 18, 2019

The Industrial Revolutions: The effects on Europe and the World :: European Europe History

The Industrial Revolutions: The effects on Europe and the World The Industrial Revolution affected life in Europe during the 19th century very greatly. Cities in Great Britain were growing rapidly, this was known as urbanization. Many cities such as Glasgow and Berlin more than doubled in size. The Industrial Revolution was having a positive affect on Great Britain. From the outpour of people into cities looking for work, things were so rapidly paced that there was no order in these cities. Unsanitary and unsafe buildings were being built all over to home all of the workers. There was less than adequate education and police protection for the ever-growing population. Many people had to live in shelters due to the lack of housing; many families lived in a single room. Many people died of cholera from the poor living and working conditions. The main goal that factory owners wanted was to keep their production a constant, working for the better part of a day. Since the owners wanted to save as much money as possible, the factories were rarely cleaned or well lit. Coalmines posed the biggest danger from the constant inhalation of coal dust and the collapse of the mines. Workers had a life expectancy 10 years less than of another worker. Even though the Industrial revolution brought problems to life quickly, through the long run a number of positive effects arose. It provided jobs for workers and it aided in technological progress and invention. It raised the standard of living from increased production of good and it in the improvement in people's lives. Better housing and cheaper mass-produced clothing helped people become healthier. From the strong demand of engineer's and professional workers, education became very profuse. For the lower class workers of the Industrial Revolution, their life slowly but surely improved during the 19th century, through earning higher wages, shorter hours, and improved working conditions.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Bolster Electronics: Dealing With Dealer Demands

Northern Alberta, the oil sands development area surrounding Fort McMurray, is the fastest growing economic area in Canada for several years. Obviously Bolster’s total market share in this area was the highest with one third of the total market share it held national wide. Vickers based in Edmonton, Alberta covered 50% of the local market share and 75% of servicing in that area in spite having a national distributor, National Electronics (National). Also local firms preferred to do business with Vickers than National which has their nearest warehouse in Calgary, Sothern Alberta around 750 Km from Fort McMurray. (Exhibit 1) Neither Bolster nor National had a video system design team in northern Alberta.Since one third of the total market share is concentrated in northern Alberta, it is imperative to have a system design team there. If not it leads to a huge potential loss because there are competitions among the top 4 players who have 15% of the market share each. The managemen t tried to convince National to work in northern Alberta in 2007 but it went vain. At the same time Vickers was well established in northern Alberta, its main office, warehouse and engineering team are in Edmonton with a warehouse and sales team in the proposed oil sands area of Fort McMurray which is a six hours drive from Edmonton.Vickers is in the business for the past 20 years and their salespersons were highly trained and serviced the northern Alberta more effectively than national distributors. This is what the customer exactly wants in terms of good track record and service support in addition to lowest price. They also proved as an effective dealer by taking responsibility of warehouse, inventory storage, engineering expertise and services, relationship with local dealers and end-users, and increasing the Bolster’s business in their area. Hence they requested Bolster a better pricing discount and wanted to be named as distributor.However the major concern for the mana gement is that if a local dealer was given a distributorship it may deteriorate relationship with their national distributors as it does in 2004 when Albright Industries was given a distributorship in order to make up theshortfall of 7% drop in market share and to provide growth in Quebec. Fortunately, last time National’s dissatisfaction disappeared in a long run since they are not competing for the same market.National doesn’t take any leap in past 5 years in doing business in northern Alberta though it was informed about the huge potential of increasing market share. It seems National is not interested in increasing his presence in northern Alberta. Because of technological advancement and increased competition from three other major players it was difficult for Bolster to maintain an overall gross margin of 40% of factory price. In the current scenario if Bolster gives a distributorship to Vickers, it will further affect the financial stability of the company.Thoug h it has a potential to increasing the market share over 90%, if they got distributor’s discount. It will also change the entire distribution channel (a network through which goods moves from the manufacturer to end-users). The distribution cost of each channel plays a major role in selecting the options (Financial Analysis if possible) Customer service is a major issue since industrial video equipment are normally used in harsh environments.So the distributors or dealers should work faster if there was a production stoppage because of the failure of the video equipment for end-users. Since Bolster is more focused on technological development the responsibility lies with the distributors and the dealers. Though Vickers doubled its trained sales team to four, it is not enough to manage the vast area if it was given a distributorship. Even hiring a sales team seems difficult since compensation for the sales team was competitive in the industry.THE PROBLEM STATEMENTHow to handle the Vickers’ request of distributorship such that it has minimum negative consequences?OPTIONS1. Giving Territorial Distributorship to Vickers 2. Giving National Distributorship to Vickers 3. Leave it as a Territorial Dealership 4. Giving only Distributor’s Discount but not DistributorshipCRITERIA FOR EVALUATION1. Relationship with Distributors and Dealers 2. Financial Implications 3. Market Share 4. Customer Satisfaction (Services)EVALUATION OF OPTIONSOption 1: Giving Territorial Distributorship to Vickers If Vickers and National didn’t compete for the same market, then it will not create much dissatisfaction among the management, Vickers and National as it was in 2004, when Albright was given distributorship. If Vickers was given distributorship, Bolster has to give a price discount of 10% it will further deteriorate the financial positioning of Bolster.It is imperative to increase the market share in northern Alberta, since it has a potential of one third of the total market share. Since neither Bolster nor National have the presence in northern Alberta, it is wise to give a distributorship to Victors such that they can capture the 90% of the market share in there. It also helps to improve the customer services extended to the end users, since they have a presence.Option 2: Giving National Distributorship to Vickers If Vickers was given a National Distributorship, it will obviously deteriorate relationship with National because in a long run they are going to compete for the same market.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Marketing Case

Management-to get to the profit I believe you have to have some good management behind a business. If you have a business and the management is not solid or unrecognized or nonexistent a business cannot run smoothly, therefore putting profit at risk for that business. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. 2. Customer Service- a business should always operate with the consumers in mind considering they are the ones who will generate profit for the business. If good customer service Is not involved in business, Just like good management, profit will not exist.Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. 3. Supply and demand- a business has to think are we supplying what the consumers want or is demanded in order to make a profit. If you have a business selling things that are not needed or not wanted then surely u will not have profit. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. 4. Inventory- a business should offer operate with Inventory In mind If ther e aren't enough Inventories In a market people will go elsewhere to find it. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. . Marketing (image) – if a business cannot lure people in how is your profit going to be made. A business should also think about marketing has well or has a stepping stone to make a profit. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. A businesses general goal should be to make a profit but I do not feel that they should only operate with a profit In mind, because there are several factors that can get you to making a profit. A) Was Home Depot's behavior an act of good ethics or simply shrewd business?Imagine how an executive would argue in a meeting for the actions that the company kook. What objections might other executives raise? Believe that although Home Depot increased the price before hand I still see their behavior has an act of good ethics. The executives would argue in a meeting that In a time such as these that It's Just supply and demand. They raised prices knowing that people would come in to purchase these materials to protect their investments. 1 OFF Unlike price gouging Tanat seems to napped rater an Incident or at ten last nor Ana the prices go up extensively.Other executives might argue that they raised prices just at the right time to avoid really being looked at has price gouging. B) Would it make any difference in this case whether a decision maker takes a short -term or long-term view? Which view should the decision maker take? It would make a difference on whether a decision maker takes a long term or short term view. If you look at it from long term Home Depot made a smart business decision to increase their prices, they increased profits therefore in the future will be making more profits. In the short term they lost out on the profits that came from price gouging.I think the decision maker should take the view of short term and that I believe that they kept ethical in their businesses. C) D oes Home Depot (or any other Business) have a responsibility to help the citizens hurt by the hurricane? Whose responsibility is hurricane relief? I feel it's good business to help citizens hurt by the hurricane all it can do is make that business look very good to the public but I feel it is not their responsibility to and in hurricane relief it's the insurance companies and the owners responsibilities and if the situation is bad enough maybe the government

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Banking Formalities

BANKING FORMALITIES : SUCH AS NEGOTIATION OF DOCUMENTS Negotiation means the standard procedures that bank performs which includes checking of the documents and giving value to the seller. The issuing bank may issue the LC available by negotiation with a nominated bank or it may allow the LC to be freely negotiated with any bank. In the first case, the beneficiary, that is the seller, has to present the documents only to that bank, which is the nominated bank.Nevertheless, the nominated bank is not bound to negotiate if it has not undertaken a separate payment obligation to the seller. The nominated bank may simply refuse to negotiate the documents drawn under the LC. This is because, by having been nominated by the issuing bank, it does not constitute and undertaking to negotiate. If, however, the nominated bank has added its confirmation to the LC at the request of the issuing bank, thereby undertaking a separate payment obligation to the seller, then it has to honour its undertak ing and pay for the documents drawn under the LC if they are in order (Article 9b).LC which does not nominate any bank is normally available for negotiation with any bank in the country of the seller which is willing to negotiate the documents. For the information of all traders, there are 4 types of negotiation practiced by banks around the world. They are: 1. Negotiation without recourse 2. Negotiation with recourse 3. Negotiation against indemnity 4. Negotiation under reserve Let me explain Negotiation without recourse first and the rest at a later posting.A seller may present his documents drawn under LC directly to either a) The issuing Bank (bank that issues the LC) or b) The confirming bank (bank that adds its confirmation at the request of the issuing bank) or c) To his own bank If the seller chooses to present the documents directly either to the ISSUING BANK or to the CONFIRMING BANK, these banks make payment WITHOUT RECOURSE to him. Meaning, the payment that has been paid to the seller shall not in any way become claimable by these banks in the event the documents are found not in order after making such payment.These banks cannot have recourse to the seller because by issuing or confirming the LC, they have taken upon themselves the risk that the party from whom reimbursement is to be obtained may become insolvent. I hope this would give traders a general idea of how the LC operates and the implications to buyer and seller. BANKING FORMALITIES :OBTAINING PACKING CREDIT AND POST SHIPMENT FINANCE Packing Credit : Overview Packing credit is a loan/ cash credit facility sanctioned to an exporter in the Pre-Shipment stage.This loan facilitates the exporter to purchase raw materials at competitive rates and manufacture or produce goods according to the requirement of the buyer and organize to have it packed for onward export.. The lending institutions seek a Letter of Credit opened in favour of the exporter from the overseas buyer along with the irrevoca ble (cannot be canceled once drawn) Purchase Order favouring the exporter. Packing Credit facility will cover all the working capital needs of the exporter including raw materials, wages, packing costs and all pre-shipment costs.Packing credit is available for generally a period of 90 days and the exporter has to pay lower rate of interest compared to traditional Overdraft or Cash Credit facility. Exporters use this facility so they can bid the most competitive price for export thus gaining more business opportunities for export. Packing Credit : Documents The borrower and/or the guarantors have to provide the following documents to the banks or the lending institutions while submitting Packing credit Application. Certain documents may be demanded by the bank or the lending institutions in post sanction phase or on periodical basis. Address Proof : Latest Electricity/Telephone Bill or Receipt of Maintenance Charges or Valid Passport or Voter’s Identity Card or Purchase/Lease Deed/ Leave & License Agreement of Residence or Office Premises. * Identity Proof : Valid Passport, PAN Card, Voter’s Card, Any other photo identification issued by Government Agencies. * Business Proof : VAT/CST Registration No. or MIDC Agreement or SSI Permanent Registration Certificate or Warehouse Receipts or Shop & Establishment Act Certificate or Copy of Lease Agreement along with the latest Rent paid Receipt. * Business Profile on Company’s Letterhead. Partnership deed in case of partnership firms. * Certificate of incorporation, Date of Commencement of Business and Memorandum of Title Deeds, Form 32 in for Addition or Deletion of Directors in case of companies. * Last three years Trading, Profit & Loss A/c. and Balance Sheets (duly signed by a Chartered Accountant wherever applicable). * Last one years’ Bank statement of the Firm. * If existing loan, then sanctioning letter and repayment schedule of the same. * Firm/Company’s PAN Cards. * Individu al Income Tax Returns of the Individual/Partners/Directors for last three years. Last one years’ Bank statement of Individuals, Partners, Directors . * SEBI formalities in case of listed companies. * Share Holding pattern of Directors duly certified by a Chartered Accountant. * List of the Existing Directors of the company from the Registrar of the Companies. Packing Credit : Process 1. Personal interview /discussions is held with the customers by the bank’s officials. 2. Bank's Field Investigation team visits the business place/work place of the applicant. (All the documents submitted are verified by the bank with the originals so as to ensure the authenticity of the same. 3. Bank verifies the track record of the applicant with the common information sharing bureau (CIBIL). 4. In case of fresh projects the bank analyses the back ground of the applicant/firm/company and the Technical feasibility/financial viability of the project based on various parameters and also th e existing market conditions. 5. Depending on the size of the project the file is put up for sanction to the appropriate level of authority. SANCTION AND DISBURSEMENT : 1. On approval/sanction, the sanction letter ,is issued specifying the terms and conditions for the disbursement of the loan.The acceptance to the terms of sanction is taken From the Applicant. 2. The processing charges as specified by the bank have to be paid to proceed further with the disbursement procedure. 3. The documentation procedure takes place viz. Legal opinion of various property documents and also the valuation reports. (Original Documents to title of the immovable assets are to be submitted) 4. All the necessary documents as specified by the legal dept. , according to the terms of sanction of the loan of the bank are executed.Disbursement of the loan takes place after the Legal Dept. Certifies the Correctness of execution document Post shipment finance Pre-shipment is also referred as â€Å"packing cre dit†. It is working capital finance provided by commercial banks to the exporter prior to shipment of goods. The finance required to meet various expenses before shipment of goods is called pre-shipment finance or packing credit DEFINITION: Financial assistance extended to the exporter from the date of receipt of the export order till the date of shipment is known as pre-shipment credit.Such finance is extended to an exporter for the purpose of procuring raw materials, processing, packing, transporting, warehousing of goods meant for exports. IMPORTANCE OF FINANCE AT PRE-SHIPMENT STAGE: * To purchase raw material, and other inputs to manufacture goods. * To assemble the goods in the case of merchant exporters. * To store the goods in suitable warehouses till the goods are shipped. * To pay for packing, marking and labelling of goods. * To pay for pre-shipment inspection charges. * To import or purchase from the domestic market heavy machinery and other capital goods to produce export goods. To pay for consultancy services. * To pay for export documentation expenses. FORMS OR METHODS OF PRE-SHIPMENT FINANCE: 1. Cash Packing Credit Loan: In this type of credit, the bank normally grants packing credit advantage initially on unsecured basis. Subsequently, the bank may ask for security. 2. Advance Against Hypothecation: Packing credit is given to process the goods for export. The advance is given against security and the security remains in the possession of the exporter. The exporter is required to execute the hypothecation deed in favour of the bank. . Advance Against Pledge: The bank provides packing credit against security. The security remains in the possession of the bank. On collection of export proceeds, the bank makes necessary entries in the packing credit account of the exporter. 4. Advance Against Red L/C: The Red L/C received from the importer authorizes the local bank to grant advances to exporter to meet working capital requirements relating to processing of goods for exports. The issuing bank stands as a guarantor for packing credit. 5. Advance Against Back-To-Back L/C:The merchant exporter who is in possession of the original L/C may request his bankers to issue Back-To-Back L/C against the security of original L/C in favour of the sub-supplier. The sub-supplier thus gets the Back-To-Bank L/C on the basis of which he can obtain packing credit. 6. Advance Against Exports Through Export Houses: Manufacturer, who exports through export houses or other agencies can obtain packing credit, provided such manufacturer submits an undertaking from the export houses that they have not or will not avail of packing credit against the same transaction. . Advance Against Duty Draw Back (DBK): DBK means refund of customs duties paid on the import of raw materials, components, parts and packing materials used in the export production. It also includes a refund of central excise duties paid on indigenous materials. Banks offer pre-shipme nt as well as post-shipment advance against claims for DBK. 8. Special Pre-Shipment Finance Schemes: * Exim-Bank’s scheme for grant for Foreign Currency Pre-Shipment Credit (FCPC) to exporters. * Packing credit for Deemed exports. SOME SCHEMES IN PRE-SHIPMENT STAGE OF FINANCE . PACKING CREDIT SANCTION OF PACKING CREDIT ADVANCES: There are certain factors, which should be considered while sanctioning the packing credit advances viz. 1. Banks may relax norms for debt-equity ratio, margins etc but no compromise in respect of viability of the proposal and integrity of the borrower. 2. Satisfaction about the capacity of the execution of the orders within the stipulated time and the management of the export business. 3. Quantum of finance. 4. Standing of credit opening bank if the exports are covered under letters of credit. 5.Regulations, political and financial conditions of the buyer’s country. DISBURSEMENT OF PACKING CREDIT: After proper sanctioning of credit limits, the disbursing branch should ensure: To inform ECGC the details of limit sanctioned in the prescribed format within 30 days from the date of sanction. a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To complete proper documentation and compliance of the terms of sanction i. e. creation of mortgage etc. b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There should be an export order or a letter of credit produced by the exporter on the basis of which disbursements are normally allowed.In both the cases following particulars are to be verified: 1. Name of the Buyer. 2. Commodity to be exported. 3. Quantity. 4. Value. 5. Date of Shipment / Negotiation. 6. Any other terms to be complied with. 2. FOREIGN CURRENCY PRE-SHIPMENT CREDIT (FCPC) * The FCPC is available to exporting companies as well as commercial banks for lending to the former. * It is an additional window to rupee packing credit scheme ; available to cover both the domestic i. e. indigenous ; imported inputs. The exporter has two options to avail him of export finance. To avail him of pre-shipment credit in rupees ; then the post shipment credit either in rupees or in foreign currency denominated credit or discounting /rediscounting of export bills. * To avail of pre-shipment credit in foreign currency ; discounting/rediscounting of the export bills in foreign currency. * FCPC will also be available both to the supplier EOU/EPZ unit and the receiver EOU/EPZ unit. Pre-shipment credit in foreign currency shall also be available on exports to ACU (Asian Clearing Union) countries with effect from 1. 1. 1996.Eligibility: PCFC is extended only on the basis of confirmed /firms export orders or confirmed L/C’s. The â€Å"Running account facility will not be available under the scheme. However, the facility of the liquidation of packing credit under the first in first out method will be allowed. Order or L/C : Banks   should not   insist  Ã‚   on   submission   of   export  Ã‚   order   or   L/C   for   every disbursement  Ã‚  Ã‚   of   pre-shipment  Ã‚   credit , from exporters  Ã‚   with consistently  Ã‚   good   track   record. Instead, a system of periodical submission of a statement of L/C’s or export orders in hand, should be introduced.Sharing of FCPC: Banks may extend FCPC to the manufacturer also on the basis of the disclaimer from the export order. Export Finance HSBC is a market leader in Export Finance, recognised through annual Dealogic surveys. Through a team of professionals in strategic locations globally, Export Finance arranges medium- and long-term financing for HSBC clients in the public and private sector across the globe buying capital goods and services. Finance can cover marine assets, aircraft, power generation equipment, infrastructure development, manufacturing equipment, oilfield services and a host of other goods and services.Export Finance also features regularly in the financing of limited recourse projects, as a project financing tool. Export Finance uses gove rnment guarantee programmes, Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), in an exporting country to credit enhance the financing to the buyer, thereby achieving highly competitive pricing for the buyer. It also allows borrowers to access a new pool of risk capital, often with appetite for extended tenors relative to traditional bank financing. Export Finance provides structuring, arranging, documentation and distribution services for clients in relation to almost all ECAs.

Graffiti Art Essay

In the late 1960s’s, another art genre was recognized and developed although its lack of form and other basic aesthetic elements has been once a topic of debates as regard its acceptance in the artistic world. Obviously, it differs from the works of art found in museums and galleries and its kind are not found in those elite locations because its location is specific. The location of graffiti art has been actually a subject of oppositions as well as its bold, unexpected and unconventional presentation. Although still, its location, may it be illegal, does not disqualify it as art. Thus, graffiti art is a form of art despite criticisms on its legality, coherence and presentation. It is also argued that graffiti art is a form of vandalism, but this is true only if they appeared on private or public property without permission. Graffiti art is indeed another genre of visual masterpiece. Graffiti comes from â€Å"grafficar†, an Italian word for drawings, markings, patterns, scribbles, or messages that are painted, written, or carved on a wall or surface. Graffiti is the plural of grafficar. Grafficar also signifies a process meaning â€Å"to scratch†. Examples of which are different wall writings ranging from â€Å"cave paintings†, bathroom scribbles, or any message that is scratched on walls. In the ancient Egypt and Rome, in particular, graffiti has been visible in monuments and building walls which are now being explored. It is originally used to term inscriptions, figure drawings, and other carvings found on the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins. Examples are the Catacombs, or those found at Pompeii. (Whitford, 1992. pp. 137) In the modern era, present day graffiti is also associated to any unsolicited markings on a private or public property, usually considered to be vandalism. In the early 1970s young New Yorkers has started to adopt tags, signatures and signs using aerosol sprays and markers in public places. The youngsters, belonging to the black and Puerto Rican communities have initiated the tagging which eventually developed and soon covered the city’s walls, buses and obviously in subway trains. Tags even cover the entire train. Some may contain screen names or reflections of the writer, comes in subtle and often cryptic messages. Taki, an artist of Greek-American descent, was the first modern identified tagger in New York. He signed himself Taki 183, the number probably derived from the number in his apartment block. Some names also made their appearances in some real urban murals painted with spray-paint. Tags such as Futura 2000, Dust and Pink gained fame and recognition in the world of hip-hops. There were also Basquiat and Haring who also started to work in the street and the subway but their works swiftly spread beyond the works of graffiti. Their works attracted the attention of influential dealers which put them in great demand although their works were considered one of the rare forms of graffiti art. (Graffiti†¦ 2007, p. 1) Tagging and graffiti differs from each other although arguments about this difference still arise. Tagging is associated negatively as gang-motivated and illegal because it is usually meant as vandalism. It is also viewed as too vulgar or controversial to have public value. On the other hand, graffiti can be viewed as creative expression, not to mention its usual link to politics. Main Types of Graffiti Art The main types of graffiti fall into different categories and have their own names which are recognized in cities all over the world. First is â€Å"Hip Hop Graffiti†. This is characterized by ‘pieces’ which hip hop graffitists create by aerosol spray paints. They are large and colorful works, usually including either a complex mix of letters or a cartoon-style picture. This type of graffiti often lacks much thought and planning in design and usually takes an extended period of time. Second is the â€Å"Opportunistic Graffiti† which location is selected impulsively, on the basis of low risk and low natural surveillance. Graffitists of this type usually use â€Å"tags† or â€Å"scrawling† to mark their territory. Third type is the â€Å"Gang Graffiti†. Gang graffiti is not art work but a sophisticated communication to publicize gang power, status, and territory. This type is somehow related to opportunistic graffitists because they also use â€Å"tags† or â€Å"scrawling† to mark territory. But in addition to this, gangs use graffiti to create notoriety or show off their defiance of the law and society, and as a mode of marking their presence. The fourth, the â€Å"Political & Social Graffiti† is obviously of racial or political motivation. This is uncommonly regarded as part of the graffiti subculture, although it is recognized as damaging to property. The last type is the â€Å"Commercial Graffiti† which is an emerging civic problem. This involves huge compensations paid by private organizations to graffitists to spray advertising logos onto walkways and buildings for promotions of their products. This type is an illegal form of advertising that avoids normal planning laws. (Stowers 1997, pp. 1-2) Gang Graffiti: The Most Dangerous Graffiti The gang graffiti is the most controversial not just because of the characters of its writings but because of its social impact in the neighborhood. Gang graffiti is an indication of gang presence in the community. Gangs use graffiti as their â€Å"newspapers,† thus they usually call it â€Å"newspaper in the wall† as gangs use them to send messages. This is their way of marking boundaries and warning rival gangs. Graffiti may also be an instrument to advertise drug market or, as a memorial to a killed gang member. Symbols and cryptic writing style is exclusive in each gang. Death warrants and beat downs are known to be posted in graffiti. Upside down or crossed out graffiti generally means a put down or threat to a rival gang or person. (Bland and Read 2000) According to Michael Carlie (2002), graffiti is the most common method of gang communication and a major symbolism of their gang affiliation. Jonathan Kellerman (1994) as cited by Carlie referred to graffiti as â€Å"the hieroglyphics of rage† because of the violence associated with it. On the surface, a person who is not familiar with it might think of graffiti as a simple nonsense painting on the wall or in poles or elsewhere, or just a plain vandal. Carlie adds that among other things, graffiti communicates the â€Å"role call† or the roster of gang members, or the hierarchy of gang members. It also implies who’s around, who’s with who, who’s disrespecting who, which gangs are claiming what territory and which areas are in dispute. It may be an announcement of current gang activities and who’s getting ready to attack who, or who’s already been killed. A familiar language, for example, is the â€Å"X† which if marked on a member’s name means he is the likely target for an attack or murder. (Carlie 2002, pp. 2) An important not on gang graffiti is, in many ways, it is a code and codes in general are subjects to analysis. Deciphering gang graffiti requires the understanding of the symbols, abbreviations, structure, that composes the gang language. In the United States, gang graffiti is usually based on two dominant styles – the L. A. and Chicago styles – which vary greatly and influence to some degree across the country. Some gangs use an exclusive style while others use a combination. For example, the Gangster Disciples originated in south-side of Chicago might combine L. A. style gang lettering with Chicago Folks Nation symbols. In New York, Latin Kings might use Chicago Latin King symbols but with New York tagger style graffiti lettering. (Graffiti†¦ 2010) These styles and some of the variations are seen throughout the country and a person who understands both styles is more likely to understand most, if not all, gang graffiti. Characters of gang related graffiti has sharp, angular stick letters, or mostly contains religious, even â€Å"satanic† imagery, or is done in one color of paint. Most of the times they are very simple and flat-out which make them easy to figure out. But no matter how simple they appear, it still requires some basic code-breaking skills. (Deciphering Gang†¦2010. p. 1) Figure 1: â€Å"WS 18 St, HGS† – West Side Eighteenth Street (gang), Hoover Gangsters (a clique of 18th Street) Two-digit numbers, especially â€Å"13? , â€Å"14? , or â€Å"18? , signifies graffiti for a hispanic gang while three digits, especially if they are the area code of your neighborhood, it’s almost certainly not a hispanic gang, but a typical prison or street sort. Exception to this is numbers followed by â€Å"K† which means a threat from a rival gang. â€Å"WS18? (figure 1) is a tag for the (hispanic) West Side 18th Street gang out of California. â€Å"WS18K† means a threat towards 18th Street by a local gang. Note that â€Å"K† is short for â€Å"Kill†. If there are two digits, see if they’re prefixed by â€Å"N†, â€Å"S†, â€Å"E†, or â€Å"W† – (or â€Å"NS†, â€Å"SS†, â€Å"ES†, or â€Å"WS†) – which relate to the cardinal directions, and form part of the gang’s identity. Hispanic gangs more often use 13 and 14 – the 13th letter of the alphabet is â€Å"M†, which generally stands for â€Å"Mexico† or â€Å"La Eme†, the Mexican Mafia and the 14th letter â€Å"N† generally means â€Å"North† that symbolizes which end of California the gang originated from. It is a division as gangstas from the north and south parts of California frequently clash. Figure 2: â€Å"Lil Capone WS VSLC, crossed out BK, Crossed out PBGK† – Lil Capone (name of gang member) West Side Venice Shoreline Crips, Blood Killer, Playboy Gangster Killer (disrespect to rival gangs) Certain patterns appear without the numbers. As always, â€Å"K† is a threat to â€Å"(K)ill†, as are any crossed-out letters. â€Å"A† as in â€Å"Almighty† â€Å"N†, that virtually stands for â€Å"Nation† can be safely ignored. When seen together, which usually occurs, it show up that the gangs used to calling themselves the Almighty Whatever Nation. Figure 3: â€Å"GD around Star of David with number six inside the star, pitchfork extending from the D† – Gangsters Disciples with six point star representing GDs and Folks. Pitchford represents GD’s and Folks Gangs which are known in the country carry a finite code which makes them easy to identify. â€Å"GD† is the Gangster Disciples and â€Å"VL† are the Vice Lords. â€Å"LK† are the Latin Kings, and â€Å"LQ† the Latin Queens; sometimes when they’re getting along, they’re the LKQ – Latin Kings and Queens. Crossed-out letters in gang graffiti usually mean a threat. Letters â€Å"B†, â€Å"C†, â€Å"F†, â€Å"P†, or â€Å"S† crossed-out in a piece of gang graffiti, it signifies a threat towards a gang whose name, â€Å"nation†, or nickname begins with that crossed out letter. In the Vice Lord tag, the letter â€Å"C† is not crossed out which tells you the local Vice Lords don’t have complaints with the (C)rips. Gangs should write very carefully because all too often, little slights in graffiti like crossing out letters, or painting over rival gangs’ tags, are a sure warning sign of impending gang war. Figure 4: â€Å"CVLN† – Conservative Vice Lords Nation. Cane extending from the â€Å"L† is a CVL symbol. Upside down pitchfork shows disrespect towards Fold Nation gangs. Knowledge in deciphering gang graffiti introduced you to a neighborhood of gangs. In (figure 4) the â€Å"C† is short for â€Å"Conservative†. The â€Å"Conservative Vice Lords† are one of several dozen larger Vice Lord â€Å"sets† around United States. Some communities have taken a massive campaign against graffiti and also intensifies gang reduction. In Florida, the Florida Department of Corrections website posts information to help educate the public in reducing gang activities, which imposes threat to the community. Some gangs, the website says, even use graffiti as ‘Death warrants’ to authorities specifically to police officers. Community awareness program in most part of America uses the 4 R’s of graffiti to intensify campaign against gangs and gang graffiti. The slogan says, â€Å"READ IT, RECORD IT, REPORT IT & REMOVE IT†. (Deciphering Gang†¦2010, p. 1) Thus, citizens should read it and report it to police, and police will record it and then remove it. These steps are important but the removal of the graffiti is the most risky. Removal of graffiti manifests the neighborhood’s refusal to be dominated or intimidated by gangs which is a language most gang members understand. Neighborhood residents who ignore graffiti and bother not to remove them are viewed as frightened and weak by the gangs who made them. At the worst, there are instances that gang members attack people who attempt to remove or cover their graffiti. Gang graffiti is the most dangerous of all graffiti and can usually be found around community rail stations. It marks territory and rival gangs usually challenge for territory by crossing out another gang’s graffiti. It imposes real and great danger to the residents. Messages in graffiti are taken seriously by gangsters and the longer graffiti is, the greater the risk that the threats will be acted on. Graffiti is a gateway crime and membership in gangs certainly guarantees a criminal record. Since juvenile of minor age receives more lenience when it comes to punishment, the minors are the usual target of recruitment and the doer of crimes. Residents Against Graffiti Everywhere (RAGE) is a community group that looks at social issues and works with local councils and Governments towards promoting a zero tolerance policy on graffiti. (Bland and Read 2000, p. 179) By legal definition, graffiti is vandalism. It is the unauthorized application of markings on someone else’s property, especially without permission. Therefore, legality wise it is a crime. The manner that graffiti is regularly produced as illegal detracts it from the concept to be considered an art form. Very unfortunately that graffiti is responded with outrage over the abuse of someone’s property. This negative connotation may take away the value or impact of the artist’s original message. Perhaps, it would be better to get permission from the owner of the â€Å"canvas† to display the art. Yet, graffiti still elicits emotional response even in its illegal state. Furthermore, it is composed of lines, shapes, color, tones, and forms in a display that conveys a certain message and elicits an emotion. Therefore, it is safe to say that graffiti is indeed an art. As George Stowers (1997) presented four criteria as basis that some forms of graffiti become a work of art. First, the artist’s intention to produce a work of art separates graffiti art from everyday graffiti markings. Second, graffiti art established a history of development in style and technique. Third, the art world has already recognized graffiti as an art form. Fourth is the public response to graffiti art indicates that it is art. Regardless of the message it conveys, the fact that graffiti carry the aesthetic and creative symbolism and expression, public agrees that graffiti is a form of art. Like other art forms, graffiti art is a definite art when both the artist and the audience agree on the works ability to provide maximal aesthetic satisfaction. Graffiti is presently known as spray can art which is a form indeed recognized as art. It has form, color, and other base properties as any other art pieces. It also has as an arrangement of these elements into structures that qualify it aesthetically as being art. However, something that is done with spray paint might make it graffiti, but not necessarily qualify as art or graffiti art. Location and presentation still are the factors that hinder the general acceptance of graffiti art. However, the instances that the art world’s acceptance of graffiti art shows that conventional methods of presentation are not all that matters in determining graffiti as an art. Graffiti in the form of spray can art is art like any other work that might be found in a gallery or a museum. References Bland, N. & Read, T. (2000). Policing Anti-social Behaviour. Police Research Series 123, Policing and Reducing Crime, British Home Office, London, UK. Carlie, Michael. (2002) Graffiti and Other Gang Identifiers. (Into the Abyss: A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs) Retrieved 23 May 2010 from . Deciphering Gang Graffiti (2008). The Slugsite. com. Retrieved 23 May 2010 from . Graffiti. (2007) The Huntfor. com retrieved 23 May 2010 from .

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Case Study of Gillette Company-Free-Samples-

This paper aims to discuss the Gillette Company which launched the first blade system in 1998. The Company embraced technology and it introduced the five-blade system to outdo its competitors (Nye, 2016). However, the three-blade system was the significant element of the Gillette Company. Also, the three-blade system was introduced to minimize the irritation which was caused by the three-blade system when shaving. Therefore, the Gillette has its pros and cons in the marketing strategies as discussed in this paper. To begin with the pros, The Gillette embraced a new technology to improve the designs in the market. Through the strategy of embracing new technology Gillette would maintain its customers. The Gillette employed the strategy for success by launching the five-blade system to reduce the irritation caused to the customers when using the product (Dhebar, 2016). The marketing plan for the Gillette became more aggressive when they launched the new products. Therefore, the Gillette made a high profit and tried to outdo its key competitors in the market. On the other hand, the Gillette has cons in the marketing strategies as outlined in this paper. Due to the new technology, the Company was obliged to retrain the staff for them to understand the technology (Barrow& Stowers, 2013). At the same time the Gillette minimized the loyalty for the customers hence the market share declined.   Also, the aggressive marketing rollout strategy caused the Gillette to incur costs in advertising the products. Also, the Gillette received criticism due to the campaigns held when marketing the products (Stowell, Stowell,Grogan & Grogan, 2017). The launching of the Fusion Razor was a significant failure for the Gillette. In conclusion, the Gillette has employed good marketing strategies to help in attracting and maintaining the customers hence increase their satisfaction. Despite the marketing strategies, the Gillette has experienced challenges. However, there are many clients who are satisfied with it Barrow, C., & Stowers, D. (2013).  U.S. Patent No. D674,547. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Dhebar, A. (2016). Razor-and-Blades pricing revisited.  Business Horizons,  59(3), 303-310. Nye, J. V. (2016). What do we really know about durable goods monopolies? The Coase conjecture in economics and its relevance for the safety razor industry. In  The Elgar Companion to Ronald H. Coase  (pp. 222-234). Edward Elgar Publishing. Stowell, D. P., Stowell, D. P., Grogan, C. D., & Grogan, C. D. (2017). The Best Deal GiIlette Could Get? Procter & Gamble's Acquisition of Gillette.  Kellogg School of Management Cases, 1-18.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Colombian perspective Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Colombian perspective - Term Paper Example Political scientists have pointed out that economic inequality and political turbulence go hand in hand in order to create unequal prosperity. It is axiomatic that economical inequality gives birth of dissatisfaction among people of a particular country (Rapley 3). Inequality is multidimensional disease because research shows that inequalities may arise within the same country between various regions. For example, in China economic inequalities lies between urban region and coastal terrain due to difference in per capita income. Nobel laureate such as Amartya Sen has indicated that inequalities should be calculated in terms in terms of economic and geographic scale (Galbraith 160). Impact of economic inequalities is far less for developed countries like USA, UK and Germany in contrast to developing nations such as Brazil, India and other south Asian countries. The world has undergone various contingency period over the last 30 years due to various reasons such as Cold War between USA and Russia, currency crisis in Asia during 1997/98, terrorism, economic recession and recent euro zone crisis. According to financial analysts the meaning of instability has changed after economic recession of 2008. In now days instability means mankind could face period of adjustment in order to avoid situations like great depression (Smith 4-6). Political restructuring is a continuous process to resolve issues having importance in context of particular country. Political restructuring of Soviet Union had impacted the world severely in terms of creating new states and altering the economic dynamics of Russian Federation. Quintessentially economic hegemony of USA has impacted the direction of global stability for last 50 years while political instability of Middle East has disrupted stability of Asian countries (Ritchie, and Crouch 4). Giuseppe Sfligiotti has argued that price of clean